CONFIDENTIAL
ANNEXE C
GUIDANCE NOTES FOR PRESS INTERVIEW
(to be used only if necessary)
The discussions were held in the Commonwealth Office and
the chair was taken by Sir Arthur Snelling, Deputy Under- Secretary of State, who accompanied the Secretary of State (Mr. Fowder) on his recent visit to Hong Kong. They were
attended by officials from the main economic departments in
Whitehall, The discussions lasted three days and covered the
ground in considerable detail.
The discussions had three purposes:
2.
(a)
3.
to inform the Hong Kong side of the present state
of play of the British application and the likely
time-table during the next few months;
(b) to examine the possible implications of full
British Membership of the European Economic
Community for Hong Kong;
(c) to explore possible ways in which Hong Kong's
essential interests could best be safeguarded in
negotiations with the Six.
It was not the intention to reach any definitive conclusions
but both sides agreed that a number of ideas which had emerged
from this week's discussions should be examined further.
4.
It is expected that a further round of discussions will be
held later on, perhaps in the early autumn, although firm dates
were not fixed.
5. The role played in Hong Kong's economic development during
the past few years by the Commonwealth preference system and by
the access available for cotton textiles in Britain and the
Six is fully understood in Whitehall.
6. There can be no doubt about Her Majesty's Government's
interest and concern for Hong Kong's continued economic well-being.
CONFIDENTIAL